Zendaya and Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Challengers’ to Skip France Theatrical Release, Debut on Prime Video

While unveiling its slate of new French originals and acquisitions on Monday, Prime Video announced that it would skip a French theatrical release for “Challengers,” Luca Guadagnino’s anticipated tennis drama. The film, which stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and “West Side Story” star Mike Faist, will still be released in theaters in all other territories.

During a posh press event hosted at the Pavillon Royal on the outskirts of Paris, Brigitte Ricou-Bellan, Prime Video’s country managing director for France, said the strategic move by the Amazon streamer resulted from France’s notoriously strict windowing rules, which demands streamers to wait 15 to 17 months after a theatrical roll out before making a new film available on their services. The rule has led other studios to opt to skip French cinemas for new releases before, such as Disney’s decision to debut “Strange World” on streaming.

More from Variety

• Prime Video Unveils Top Traveling Non-English Originals, Global Execs Talk 'Citadel,' Writers Strike Impact and Rights Flexibility (EXCLUSIVE)

• Varun Dhawan, Jahnvi Kapoor's 'Bawaal' From 'Dangal' Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari to Premiere Globally on Prime Video (EXCLUSIVE)

• Cast of Prime Video's High-School Thriller 'Harlan Coben's Shelter' on Keeping It Real

“We’re a strong partner for French cinema and well-established talent. We contribute to the National Film Board’s subsidy scheme, but streaming services have been incited to no opt for theatrical releases fo our original films,” Ricou-Bellan told journalists. “Subscription-based services have been placed at a strong disadvantage compared due to this windowing system.”

The executive pointed out there’s “very active dialogues” to update the rules and that she “truly hopes they will lead to more flexibility to benefit audiences and Prime subscribers in particular.”

Ricou-Bellan hinted that “Challengers” won’t be the last Prime Video movie to forgo a release in French cinemas. “Up next, we’re continuing to favor the expectations of fans and our members,” she stated.

During the event, Prime Video announced nine new French originals, including Melanie Laurent’s heist romance “Sulak” in which she will star opposite “Emily in Paris” actor Lucas Bravo. Headed by Thomas Dubois, Prime Video’s roster of originals also includes “Sentinelle,” a burlesque comedy starring Jonathan Cohen as a high profile cop-turned-crooner living on the island of La Reunion; and “Le Stupefiant Noel des Silstone,” a parodic Christmas movie co-created and directed by Arthur Sanigou who’s worked on “LOL: Qui rit, qui sort,” the local version of Amazon’s hit format “LOL.” The movie is produced by Philippe Lacheau, the actor-filmmaker behind “Alibi.com 2,” the year’s second highest grossing French film. Prime Video is also banking on action with the original movie “Tigres & Hyenes” directed and co-written by Jérémie Guez (“B.R.I”). The series lineup also comprises “Oukira,” an action series set against the backdrop of the riots that erupted in the French projects in 2005.

Prime Video confirmed the scary spinoff of “LOL” which will bring together well-known actors who will have to be the last to scream, as well as laugh, in order to win the top prize. New factual formats include “Comedy Class,” a talent show highlighting stand up comedians, produced by ITV Studios France. The streamer also ordered a reboot of the talent show “Popstars,” produced by Alexia Laroche-Joubert at Banijay-owned ALP. Laroche-Joubert is also making her fiction debut with “Trash,” a limited series ordered by Prime Video about the making of “Loft Story,” the French adaptation of “Big Brother” which provoked a scandal in France in 2001.

Prime Video’s new slate of acquisitions and co-productions, which is headed by Sahar Baghery, is also packed with content mixing action, comedy and social themes with young actors. New titles include David Diane’s soccer drama “Numero 10,” starring popular French comedian Ilyes Djadel and professional soccer player Ibrahima Diallo; “Sirenes,” a female-driver buddy cop movie starring Alice Pol, and Shirine Boutella, produced by Mandarin & Compagnie (“Coeurs Noirs”), as well as “Nudes,” a timely series tackling cyber bullying and sexuality through the stories of three teenagers. Produced by Wild Bunch and Alcatraz Films, “Nudes” is directed by a trio of politically minded filmmakers, Sylvie Verheyde, Lucie Borleteau and Andréa Bescond.

Baghery also unveiled new collaborations with French TV channels on several prestige titles such as “Machine,” a daring series in the veins of “Nikita,” co-created and co-written by Thomas Bidegain and Fred Grivois. Prime Video and France Televisions are also back together for the second season of “Coeurs Noirs,” a harrowing war series about French special forces in Iraq, directed by Oscar-nominated French-Lebanese filmmaker Ziad Doueiri (“The Insult,” “The Attack”).

After venturing into factual, Prime Video in France will also innovate with its first short-format comedy title, “En terrasse,” which will revolve around 20-something David and his two childhood pals who moved to Paris with big hopes and get together to chat about their new lives. “En terrasse” is produced by Calt, the banner behind some of France’s highest rated short-format comedies such as “Camera Café.”

Best of Variety

• Emmys: Reality Categories – Ryan Reynolds and Lisa Vanderpump Battle RuPaul; Will TV Academy Voters See 'Love is Blind' and Carson Daly?

• Emmys: TV Movie - Can 'Beavis and Butt-Head' Continue the Animation Streak Started by 2022 Winner 'Chip n' Dale?'

• Final Tony Predictions: Best Musical - Will 'Kimberly Akimbo' Keep Mariah Carey From Becoming a Tony Winner?

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.